More Topics

Weather Forecast

LETTER TO EDITOR: Compassionate conservatives, bleeding hearts

Posted on Aug 28, 2009 at 7:00 a.m.

As one who is neither Democrat, nor Republican; but as one who understands liberals and moderates, it is imperative that I distinguish the difference between a "bleeding heart and compassion." Bleeding-Heart: foolishly soft-hearted person: somebody regarded as naively kind or sympathetic, especially toward left-wing or liberal causes. Compassion: the humane quality of understanding the suffering of others and wanting to do something about it.

The bleeding heart

1) Lacks critical judgment of human nature, whereas compassion is compelled to action using wisdom. The bleeding heart makes decisions solely on emotions, without logic. Compassion has sympathy, but seeks an intelligent solution.

2) Is naïve, idealistic and impracticable. He lives in a fantasy world called Utopia. He does not consider the negative consequences of his emotional responses to perceived problems. Their actions are usually more detrimental than beneficial.

3) Seeks to attain equality for all. Their goal is equal outcome, not equal opportunity. In other words, Socialism! "Karl Marx: From each according to his ability, to each according to his need."

4) Trusts in government to administrate what they perceive to be fair.

5) Advocates "separation of church and state", to keep Christian morality out of policies, while at the same time are attempting to seize the role of church. The state was never given the responsibility, or the authority to provide for the needy.

6) Seldom use their own money to alleviate problems, instead force others to pay for perceived injustices. The obligation of Christians to those less fortunate is a personal responsibility. Christians are to obey the Bible and be led by the Holy Spirit, not take from the wealthy, and redistribute it. Robin Hood was a thief. Stealing is immoral, whether using a gun or your vote.

"If you are a thief, quit stealing. Be honest and work hard, so you will have something to give to people in need." Eph. 4:28

7) Is unable to differ between someone in need, and a deadbeat. (lazy, irresponsible, loafer, sponge) "For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat." 2 Thess. 3:10

8) Is filled with envy, jealousy and antipathy toward the rich. A liberal has a poverty mentality, he believes the rich are evil and have too much, creating lack for others. "The LORD makes poor, and makes rich: he brings low, and lifts up." 1 Sam. 2:7

Conservative families make slightly less money, but give about 30 percent more than liberals. The differences in giving goes beyond money, conservatives are 18 percent more likely to donate blood. People, who believe it's the government's job to make incomes more equal, are far less likely to give their money away. Religious people are more likely to give to charity, and when they give, they give more money: four times as much. The religious Americans are more likely to give to every kind of cause and charity, including explicitly non-religious charities.

Arthur Brooks,

author "Who Really Cares"

Most conservatives are not against affordable healthcare, just the methods used by liberals to achieve this goal. There are proposals to bring real reform, rather than trusting government to oversee and fund healthcare. Allow refundable tax credit for health insurance. Remove the tax penalty on health insurance premium payments made with HSA money. Raise the ceiling on annual HSA contributions. Allow consumers to purchase Health insurance from other states. Prevent trial lawyers from making millions of dollars on frivolous law suits with tort reform. Law suits which raise malpractice insurance, which is passed on to patients. Fat chance! The Association of Trial Lawyers of America (ATLA), one of the largest political action committees operating on Capitol Hill, was the sixth largest contributor in the 1994 elections, contributing 94 percent of it to Democrats.

I cannot speak for Republicans, but if the author of last week's letter truly wants to know what compassionate conservatives believe, concerning those less fortunate; I have included quotes from two Republicans and a democrat, men who actually freed the oppressed. One wrote the Declaration of Independence, one brought down the Iron Curtain, and the other ended slavery. This conservative Christian believes, as did Jefferson, Reagan and Lincoln; that government is the problem, not the answer.

"You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich. You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong. You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift. You cannot lift the wage earner up by pulling the wage payer down. You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred. You cannot build character and courage by taking away people's initiative and independence. You cannot help people permanently by doing for them, what they could and should do for themselves."

Abraham Lincoln

The natural progress of things is for liberty to yield and government to gain ground. I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them. The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not. A government big enough to give you everything you want, is big enough to take away everything you have. My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government. To compel a man to subsidize with his taxes the propagation of ideas which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical.

Thomas Jefferson

New CNN poll finds most Americans still agree with the bedrock conservative premise that, as the Gipper put it, "government is not the answer to our problems -- government is the problem."